Posted on 02/03/2017 8:37:29 AM PST by Kaslin
Saudi Arabia may have just lost the American presidential election, but its lobbying interests are alive and well in the U.S. Congress.
The Saudis, who are said to have financed as much as a fifth of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, didn’t prevail there, but they continue to work at the highest levels in Washington to assert their will and scuttle American initiatives.
Last year, for example, Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, which allows American citizens to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for people and property lost in the 9/11 attacks. Fourteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, and American officials have long suspected the government knew about and perhaps even financially assisted the operation.
Specifically, JASTA creates a narrow exception to the U.S. law that grants foreign governments immunity from jurisdiction by U.S. courts. It authorizes federal courts to hear civil claims against foreign states for physical injury to a person or property or death that occurs inside the U.S. because of an act of international terrorism or damages caused by an official, agent or employee of a foreign state acting within the scope of that employment.
The legislation, introduced in 2015 by senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., passed both houses of Congress but was vetoed by President Obama in September. Congress then overrode the veto -- 348-77 in the House and 97-1 with only Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada voting against.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Perhaps the Saudis could drag George Bush Jr away from his finger-painting long enough to serve as a character witness.
There is something about which I am not clear here. Have not the “survivors” or their heirs already been compensated?
As I recall it seemed rather generous a payment at the time.
Where’s that pic of W kissing the Saudi king.
seems to me, if they do finally get to sue and win, they should reimburse the 911 Victim Compensation Fund ( tax payer dollars )
The idea of suing a foreign government in a domestic civil court was always ludicrous. Every member of Congress who voted for this stupid bill knew that, which is why they were trying to figure out ways to amend the law even before the ink was dry on the original legislation.
Tip: When posting photos of Saudi kings or their stuttering rent-boys, try using width=”400” in the img tag.
Do you realize that the Daily Beast is a left-wing site?
Re the size of the photo: I was just making sure you were able to see it.
*Sweet Smile*
George Bush Junior bows to King Abdullah while receiving the prestigious Servant of Allah award for increasing Muslim immigration into the U.S. homeland.
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